Well-liner clamp



R. J. BIGELOW.

WELL LINER CLAMP APPLICATION FILED MAY17. 1920.

1,380,1821 Patented May 31,1921.

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A mulllll UNITED STATES PTENT ()FHQE.

ROBERT J. BIGELOW, OF SANTA ANNA, TEXAS.

v, WELL-Linen CLAMP.

1,380,182. specification of Letters Patent- Patented May 31, 1921- Application filed May 17, 1920. Serial No. 382,028.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT J. BIenLoW,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Anna, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in VVell-Liner Clamps, of which, the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liners for oil and gas wells and the like, the principal object of the invention being to prevent the well from caving in.

Another object of the invention is to make the liner of resilient material so that it will firmly engage the walls of the well and thus be held in place.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the liner in contracted condition while being placed in the well and means for releasing it from such means, after being placed in the well, to permit it to expand and engage the walls of the well.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 'Figure 1 is an elevation of the liner in expanded condition.

Fig. 2 is a like view with the liner in con tracted condition.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the liner in expanded condition.

Fig. 4 is a view of the strip for holding the upper part of the liner is contracted condition.

Fig. 5 is a view of the plate for holding the lower part of the liner in contracted condition.

Fig. 6 is a view of the means for lowering the parts into the well. I

Fig. 7 is a view, with parts in section, and parts broken away, of the parts when in position for lowering the liner into the well..

In these views 1 indicates the liner which is made in the form of a split cylinder, the liner preferably being made of spring metal, which normally assumes the form shown in Fig. 1 with its split edges spaced apart. A key-hole shaped opening 2 formed in the upper part of the liner adjacent each of the edges and a like opening 2 is formed diametrically opposite said openings 2 when-the same are in alinement with each other, when the cylinder is in, the position shown in Fig. 2. If the liner is of considerable length I may form other openings intermediate its ends as shown at 3. Three notches 4 are formed in the lower end of the cylinder, two of these notches being formed adjacent the split so hat these three notches willv aline with one another when the liner is contracted as shown in Fig. 2. Before lowering the liner into the well the same is contracted into the position shown in Fig. 2 by passing a rope or cable around the same and twisting the rope until the split edges overlap and the openings and notches are in alinement. A strip 5 has its T-shaped ends 6 passing through the key-l10le shaped openings and a bottom plate 7 is placed over the lower end of the liner with its flanges 8 engaging the outer walls of the liner and the nihs 9 on said flanges engaging the notchesl. The opposite sides of the plate are cut away to provide the recesses 10 so that the plate can be drawn through the liner when turned on end and the plate is also provided with a central opening 11 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The strip 5 is also provided with a central opening 12 through which the sand cable passes.

in order to lower the liner into the well I provide a hook member 13 which has its hook engaging the opening 11 in the plate. This member is screw threaded to the lower end of a member 14 and this member 14: is slidably connected with a member 15 and this member 15 is screwed to the lower end of the small stem 16 which has its upper end. provided with an eye 17 to receive the sand cable 18, this cable being connected with the hoisting mechanism in the ordinary way. After the liner is lowered into the well and reaches the proper point therein a piece of pipe such as shown at A is placed over the cable and dropped so that it will strike the strip 5 and break the same thus releasing the upper part of the liner and permitting it to expand. The cable is then manipulated to permit the member 15 to strike the member i l with force enough to cause the hook member to knock the plate 7 oil" the lower end of the liner and permit this part of the liner to expand. As soon as the plate 7 leaves the liner it will turn on the hook member so as to assume a vertical position and thus be able to be pulled through the liner and out of the Well. By the expansion of the liner the diameter thereof will be increased and it will firmly engage the walls of the well.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Vfhat I claim is 1. A liner for wells comprising a cylinder made of resilient material and having a longitudinal slit therein so that it may be contracted, said casing having holes therein for receiving a breakable strip, some of said holes being arranged adjacent the split edges and others being diametrically opposite the Split.

2. A liner for wells comprising a split cylinder made of resilient material, a bottom plate engaging the end of the cylinder for holding the same in contracted position, a breakable strip for holding the upper part of the cylinder in contracted condition and means for breaking the strip and removing the plate after the liner is in the Well.

3. A liner for wells comprising a split cylinder having notches in its lower end, a bottom plate having flanges for engaging the outer wall of the cylinder, nibs on. said flanges for engaging said notches, said cyl inder having holes adjacent its upper end, a strip having its ends engaging said holes and means for breaking the strip and removing the plate for permitting the cylinder to expand after being placed in the Well.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT J. BIGELOVV. 

